As a PADI MSDT and former dive heart proprietor, I’ve seen many who have gone on to the professional diver ranks and grow to be working divemaster or instructors. I’ve additionally seen the place divers have gone down the trail to grow to be employable as a divemaster or teacher and had little or no luck to find work that might maintain them financially for any size of time. Do you actually wish to carry on subsidizing your diving profession?
So what are the issues that you are able to do to make it in order that if you happen to do go down the professional diver path and get all the security and dive certifications wanted to qualify as professional diver, that you just discover significant work within the dive trade.
I’d say that the primary factor is do not cease at divemaster! The reason being easy; there are extra dive masters than there are instructors. Dive instructors can work as dive masters however not the opposite method round, so a dive heart when given the prospect to rent a divemaster or an teacher, if they’ve one slot, they are going to take the teacher extra occasions than not. The exception can be dive masters which have numerous native expertise, may get the nod over a model new teacher. There’s a saying across the dive trade you could by no means have an excessive amount of lead or too many instructors.
Look on the scuba diving boards and see what jobs are being supplied and what jobs are being sought, after which take a look at what are the extra {qualifications} which might be being required.
As a basic rule the extra languages that you just converse, particularly if you’re in large backpacker scuba locations like Koh Tao, Bali or Sihanoukville, the upper the probability that you’re going to get picked up by a dive heart to work for them. Fashionable languages like Japanese, French, German and positively English if that isn’t your mom tongue, are at all times in demand. If you’re fluent in a couple of language, will increase much more your possibilities.
Tools and Compressor restore. Having a dive stay aboard and having some one that may restore tools on employees, generally is a large reduction for the boat proprietor. As a basic rule, individuals who know how you can repair tools normally know how you can stop issues. They perceive the significance of upkeep, and should not intimidated by equipment.
Develop a relationship with a dive heart. When you have numerous time round a dive heart they’ve a recognized amount in you, they know that the native dive websites, they know the way good of a diver you’re, and that you’re acquainted with the dive facilities operations.
Every dive heart is just a little bit totally different and having somebody that already is aware of the system makes you simpler to coach. In Hawaii, earlier than I jumped into diving full time, I take advantage of to get cellphone calls asking me if I may are available in and lead divers once they can be quick employees. They knew that I had a daily job, however I allow them to know that I used to be at all times obtainable in the event that they wanted some protection. I used to be fortunate in that my common job it didn’t matter if I took days off so long as I gave them 24 hours discover.
Get jobs promoting dive tools, even half time, no person actually likes to do it however dive facilities love folks that have gross sales expertise, much more so whether it is promoting dive gear! Guess what dive store homeowners spend quite a lot of time on? That is proper, shopping for and promoting dive tools.